Leafs’ John Tavares week-to-week with lower-body injury
The Toronto Maple Leafs got a tough update on one of their key players, as they announced on Saturday that center John Tavares is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
Tavares sustained the injury during Thursday’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Nick Paul and Josh Norris were tangled with each other in the middle of the ice, and when Paul shoved Norris onto the ice, Norris fell into a passing Tavares, taking the 36 year old’s legs out from underneath him and causing him to fall awkwardly on the ice. He remained on the ice for a bit before requiring assistance to the dressing room, and did not return to the game.
According to reports from the Leafs’ media, the team also mentioned that Tavares’ week-to-week designation could keep him out of the lineup for anywhere between one to six weeks, which would potentially keep him out of the lineup until the end of November. Based on the provided timeline, Tavares is projected to miss anywhere between four and 19 games.
At this point in time, the Leafs have not announced if Tavares has been placed on injured reserve or long-term injured reserve, nor have they announced any corresponding roster moves. One will likely be needed though, as the Leafs are down to only 12 forwards on their roster.
The injury is a tough break for Tavares, who was continuing on his strong production even into late 30s with two goals and five assists for seven points in seven games before the injury. It also comes only two games after Tavares had missed a game to attend the birth of his child.
With Tavares out, Easton Cowan moves up to the second line to play alongside Nick Paul and Kirill Marchenko, a combination which has only played 13 seconds together in passing this season. Gavin McKenna will replace Tavares on the Leafs’ top power play unit alongside Marchenko, Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Darren Raddysh, which certainly isn’t a bad thing considering that combination has scored three goals in just 6:24 of ice time together. Additionally, Bo Groulx will draw into the lineup as a result of the injury.
The Leafs currently find themselves in sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 3-3-2 record and are a point behind the Sabres for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Toronto will begin their journey without Tavares when they host his former team in the New York Islanders on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.